Cooling apparatus

ABSTRACT

A cooling apparatus, such as a consumer display unit ( 400 ), comprises a covered tray ( 403 ) or other compartment for accommodating consumer product to be kept cool, and a housing ( 420 ) for accommodating a replaceable charge of dry ice out of contact with the product. A tubular element ( 421 ) communicates between the covered tray and the housing ( 420 ) to allow cold air and carbon dioxide to flow from the dry ice to the product.

This invention relates to a cooling apparatus, in particular, but notlimited to, a display device.

It has long been realised that merchandising products throughfree-standing display units leads to much greater turnover in products.This has proven to be impractical with products that need to be keptcool, such as butter and other dairy products, as they had to bedisplayed in electrically powered fridges and the necessary cables andpowerpoints for the supply of power to these fridges presents theshopkeeper or supermarket owner with logistical problems.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome these problems.

The invention, therefore, provides a cooling apparatus comprising firstmeans for accomodating at least one consumer product to be kept cool,second means for accommodating a replaceable charge of solid coolant outof contact with the product, and communication means between the firstand second accommodating means to allow cold gas to flow from the solidcoolant to the product.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example,with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a first housing for solid coolant;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a second housing for solid coolant;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a display unitaccording to the invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a display unitaccording to the invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a display unitaccording to the invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a display unitaccording to the invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of a display unitaccording to the invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a sixth embodiment of a display unitaccording to the invention;

FIG. 9 is a front elevation of the unit of FIG. 8 of the drawings;

FIG. 10 is a cutaway view of the unit of FIG. 8 of the drawings showingthe cover detached therefrom;

FIG. 11 is a plan view of the unit of FIG. 8 of the drawings;

FIG. 12 is a perspective and detailed view of part of the unit of FIG. 8of the drawings;

FIG. 13 is a cutaway and detailed view of part of the unit of FIG. 8 ofthe drawings;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a seventh embodiment of a display unitaccording to the invention;

FIG. 15 is a front elevation of the unit of FIG. 14 of the drawings;

FIG. 16 is a cutaway view of the unit of FIG. 14 of the drawings showingthe cover detached therefrom;

FIG. 17 is a plan view of the unit of FIG. 14 of the drawings;

FIG. 18 is a perspective and detailed view of part of the unit of FIG.14 of the drawings;

FIG. 19 is a cutaway and detailed view of part of the unit of FIG. 14 ofthe drawings;

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of an eighth embodiment of a display unitaccording to the invention;

FIG. 21 is a front elevation of the unit of FIG. 20 of the drawings;

FIG. 22 is a cutaway and side elevation of the cabinet of FIG. 20 of thedrawings;

FIG. 23 is a plan view of the cabinet of FIG. 20 of the drawings;

FIG. 24 is a detailed and cutaway view of part of the unit of FIG. 20 ofthe drawings.

FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view of a ninth embodiment of theinvention; and

FIG. 26 is an exploded view of the embodiment of FIG. 25.

Referring now to the drawings and in particular to FIG. 1, a housing 100for solid coolant, for use in the embodiments of the invention shown inFIGS. 3 and 4, comprises a thermally insulating polystyreneopen-bottomed tray 13 of substantially rectangular shape and having aninternally disposed step or ledge 14. A grid shaped element 15 of aplastics material and having a plurality of apertures 150 therein restson the ledge 14 and forms the base of the housing 100. An insulatingpolystyrene cover 17, forming the top of the housing 100, is alsoprovided which, when in situ, sits within the tray 13, on top of solidcoolant placed on the element 15.

With reference now to FIG. 2 of the drawings, there is shown analternative housing 200 for solid coolant. The device 200, like thedevice 100 has the same type of tray 13 with ledge 14 and cover 17.However, instead of employing a grid shaped element 15, a plasticsplate-like element 115 is provided which rests on the ledge 14. Theelement 115 has a single circular aperture 155 located substantiallycentrally of the element 115. The aperture 155 has a diameter ø ofbetween 5 mm and 40 mm with a preferred diameter ø of between 10 mm and30 mm and most preferably between 10 mm and 15 mm.

In use, one or more flat packs 16 of a solid coolant such as dry ice areplaced into the tray 13 of either housing 100 or 200. The pack or packs16 rest on the element 15 or 115 as the case may be. More specifically,in the case of a housing 200 which has an aperture 155 having a diameterø of say 15 mm, one or more packs 16 having a combined initial weight ofapproximately 2 kg may be used. In the case of a housing 200 having anaperture 155 with a diameter ø of 40mm, the initial weight of thepack(s) 16 is approximately 4.5 kg. In the case of a housing 200 with anaperture 155 having a diameter ø of 30 mm the initial weight of thepacks is approximately 3.5 kg.

Suitable packs 16 of dry ice are manufactured by Hydrogas Limited ofSouth Humberside, UK, under the trade name HYDROGAS. Each pack 16 isperforated to allow CO₂ gas to evaporate as the dry ice sublimes.Preferably, the external surface of each of the packs 16 is silvered.

With particular reference to FIG. 3 of the drawings, there is shown afirst embodiment of cooling apparatus according to the invention, in theform of a display unit 10.

The unit 10 comprises a rectangularly shaped container having side walls20, 21, a top wall 22, a bottom wall 23 and a rear wall 24. A ledge 25is provided around the side walls 20, 21 and the rear wall 24, and asupport 11 provides a continuation of the ledge across the front of thecontainer. The ledge 25 and the support 11 are located relative to thetop wall 22 so as to provide an opening 11 a into which a housing 100(or 200) is inserted. Below the opening 11 a is provided a largecompartment 28 into which product suitable for maintaining at atemperature in the region of from 1° C. to 7° C., preferablyapproximately 5° C. is to be temporarily housed. Such product includes,but is not limited to, dairy products such as butter, cheese, milk andthe like; chocolate and other confectionery; and drinks in bottles orcans including water, carbonated drinks, beer, lager, wine and the like.

If desired a clear perspex wall 29 about 50 mm in height may be providedat the front lower end of the compartment 28 to prevent product fromaccidentally falling from the unit 10.

Hinged to the top wall 22 is a flap 18 which serves to close the opening11 a when the housing 100 or 200 is in situ.

With particular reference to FIG. 4 of the drawings, there is shown asecond embodiment of a display unit 30 according to the invention whichenjoys all the features of the unit 10 and functions in a similarfashion. However, unlike the unit 10, the unit 30 is provided with aplurality of dependant clear plastics strips 31 which are attached tothe support 11 and which, as is well known, provide an insulationcurtain for the compartment 28.

It will be understood that, in the embodiments of FIGS. 3 and 4, theapertures 150 in the grid 15, or the single aperture 155 in the element115, provide communication between the housing 100 or 200 and thecompartment 28 to allow cold gas (i.e. air and/or carbon dioxide) toflow downwardly from the solid coolant in the housing 100 or 200 to theproduct in the compartment 28.

Depending on the volume of the compartment 28, the aperture 155 may varyin size. An example of the relationship between the weight of ice, thedimensions and volume of the compartment 28 and the size of the aperture155 of the element 115 is provided below.

CHART 1 Dimensions of compartment 28 Volume of Initial wt φ of the (w ×h × d compartment of ice aperture TYPE (mm)) 28 (cm³) (kg) 155 (mm) A320 × 340 × 300 32.64 2   15 B 480 × 340 × 300 48.96 3.5 30 C 600 × 340× 300 61.2  4.5 40

When the solid coolant housing 100 or 200 is to be used, fresh packs 16of dry ice are placed on the grid 15 or 115 and the cover 17 placed overthem. The housing 100 or 200 is then placed into the opening 11 a of theunit 10 or 30 and the cover 18 is closed. Product placed in thecompartment 28 and housed in the unit 10 or 30 has been found to remainat a temperature of approximately 5° C. over an eighteen hour period.

With particular reference to Graph 1, it will be observed that in thecase of the use of the unit 30 having the data given above in chart 1,and in particular Type A, the compartment 28 had a temperature of 5° C.over an eighteen hour period. Graph 1 represents test conditions havingthe following criteria viz.

i. the ambient temperature was maintained at 21° C. throughout theperiod of the test;

ii. the unit 10 contained approximately 7.5 kg of product comprisingvarying quantities of margarine, cooking oil, yoghurt and water;

iii. prior to loading, 5 kg of the product had been stored at atemperature of approximately 8° C. and 2.5 kg stored at approximately 5°C.

Temperatures were recorded at fifteen minute intervals and bearing inmind that the initial temperature of the unit 30 was close to ambient, atemperature of 5° C. was achieved within approximately forty-fiveminutes following the loading of the dry ice. The air temperature withinthe unit 30 was found to be as shown in Graph 1 over the relevant timeperiod. At the end of the eighteen hour period, the product remainedbelow 5° C. for approximately three hours. It will be appreciated thatat the end of the eighteen hour period if a fresh charge of dry ice isloaded, the temperature will be maintained at or below 5° C.

At the end of the eighteen hour period, if it is desired to continue touse the unit 30 (or 10), the housing 100 (or 200) is removed, the lid 17lifted and fresh ice packs 16 placed therein. The recharged housing 200(or 100) is placed in the aperture 11 a as before.

With particular reference to FIG. 5 of the drawings, there is shown athird embodiment of a display unit according to the invention, in theform of a display cabinet 301. The display cabinet 301 effectivelycomprises three display units 10, 10 a, 10 b. The units 10 a and 10 bare similar in construction to the unit 10. Thus, the cabinet 301comprises three separate units 10, 10 a, 10 b, one on top of the otherand housed in a support frame 310 which includes a cabinet base 22 (forelevating the units 10, 10 a and 10 b above the ground for optimumdisplay purposes) and a header unit 23 which can carry advertisingmaterial pertaining to. the product or products on display. Each unit10, 10 a, 10 b is serviced by a respective solid coolant housing 100 (or200) located behind respective flaps 18, 18 a and 18 b.

Alternatively, the display cabinet 301 may be constructed such that theside walls 20, 21 and rear wall 24 are common to all three units 10, andthe roof 22 of one unit is common with the base 23 of the one above it,with appropriate openings for three housings 100 (or 200) and threecompartments 28 for products.

With particular reference to FIG. 6 of the drawings there is shown afourth embodiment of a display unit 302 according to the invention whichenjoys all the features of the cabinet 301 (and the variations thereof)and having the plastics strips 31 as shown and described with respect tothe unit 30 (or 30 a, 30 b) however, in order to provide betterinsulation for the lowermost opening 28, a thermally insulated base 35is provided.

With particular reference to FIG. 7 of the drawings, there is shown afifth embodiment of a display unit 303 according to the invention whichenjoys all the features of the cabinet 301 (and the variations thereof)and the base 35 of the cabinet 302 but with strips of plastics material37 similar to the strips 31 except each strip extends the height of allof the units 10, 10 a, 10 b (or 30, 30 a, 30 b).

The unit 10 or 30 or the cabinet 301, 302 or 303 is preferably made froma foldable blank (not shown) of semi-rigid material such as cardboard orother paper-based material.

With reference to FIGS. 8-13 of the drawings, there is shown a sixthembodiment of a display unit 400 according to the invention.

The display unit 400 comprises a six-sided base unit 401 made from card,cardboard or fluted plastic e.g. Corriplast (trade name) which isapproximately 1500 mm in height. The base unit 401 need not necessarilybe six-sided; it may have a greater or less number of sides or becircular. Into the open mouth of the base unit 401 is placed a tray 402having substantially the same external shape as that of the base unit401 so as to fit snugly therein. The tray 401 has a base 402 and sidewalls 403. The internal volume of the tray 402 may comprise a singlecompartment or, as is the case in FIGS. 8-13, may be compartmentalisedinto three subunits 404, 405, 406.

An acrylic dome 410 serves as a cover for the tray 401, the dome andtray together forming a container for consumer products placed in thetray, as will be described. The dome 410 has a plurality (preferablythree) apertures 411 which provide for access to the contents of thetray 401 when the dome 410 is in place.

The dome 410 has an insulated dry ice housing 420 which, in the case ofFIGS. 8-13 is circular in plan view. The housing 420, however, may be ofany desired shape or configuration.

With particular reference to FIG. 13, it will be observed that thehousing 420 is integral with the dome 410, being joined thereto by anintegral tubular element 421 providing a passageway for cold gas (i.e.air and/or carbon dioxide) to flow downwardly from the housing 420 tothe interior of the dome 410.

As will be observed from FIG. 13 of the drawings, the housing 420 has aninternal circumferentially disposed ledge 422. Resting on the ledge is afloor 423, forming the base of the housing 420, having a single circularaperture 424 located substantially centrally of the floor 423. Theaperture has a diameter Ø of between 5 mm and 40 mm with a preferreddiameter Ø of approximately between 10 mm and 15 mm. A lid 425 isprovided for the housing 420.

As an alternative, the dome 410 may have an opening (not shown) at theapex thereof. A housing 430 (FIG. 12) is provided which enjoys all thefeatures as described with respect to the housing 420 in addition to anintegral tubular element 431 which can mate with the opening in the apexof the dome 410.

In use, the dome 410 is removed from the tray 401 and the tray 401stacked with merchandise such as chocolate bars, sweets, etc. generallyindicated as 412. If the tray 401 is compartmentalised, as is the caseshown here, three types of product may be placed therein. The dome 410is replaced.

Into the compartment 420 is placed one or more packs 16 of dry ice. Thepacks 16 are preferably circular in cross-section. Because the housing420 is integral with the dome 410, some users may find itdisadvantageous to place (or replace) the packs 16 because of the needfor relatively thick insulating gloves for use by the person responsiblefor ensuring that there is sufficient dry ice present. This is avoidedby using the housing 430, which is removable together with the tubularelement 431 as a unit from the dome and which can be supplied readypacked with dry ice packs 16. Thus, for the purposes of recharging thecabinet 400 with a fresh change of ice packs 16, the housing 430 isremoved from the dome 410 and replaced with another similar housing 430having a fresh charge of packs 16. As will be observed in FIG. 13 of thedrawings, as the ice sublimes, cold air and carbon dioxide exits theaperture 421, travels down the tubular element 421 and under the dome410 where it bathes the produce 412 in a cold environment. Customeraccess to the produce 412 is via the apertures 411.

It will be appreciated that the housing 420 or 430 is in principle thesame as the housing 200 of FIG. 2.

With reference to FIGS. 14-19 of the drawings, there is shown a seventhembodiment of a display unit 500 according to the invention. The unit500 has a base unit 501 which has the same features as the base unit401. A tray 502 is provided which also enjoys the same features as thetray 402 except that in the case of a compartmentalised tray 502, thewalls 503 terminate in a centrally disposed circularly shaped recess504.

A dome 510 is also provided which has the same features as the dome 410except that the dome 510 does not have a tubular element similar to theelement 421 nor does it have an opening disposed in the apex thereof.

A cooling device 520 is provided which comprises a tubular body 521having a circumferentially disposed ledge 522. A plate-like element 523rests on the ledge 522 to divide the internal volume of the element 521into an upper dry ice housing 524, of which the element 523 forms thebase, and a lower passageway 525.

The element 523 has a single centrally disposed circular aperture 526having a diameter Ø of between 5 mm and 40 mm, preferably between 10 mmand 15 mm. The passageway 525 is provided with a plurality of apertures527 each having a diameter of approximately 15 mm in the side wallthereof. The device 520 is provided with a cover 528.

It will be seen that the construction of the dry ice housing 524 is inprinciple the same as that of the device 200, and like the latter housesin use one or more packs of dry ice 16 having a circular cross-section.

The display unit 500 functions in a manner similar-to that of thedisplay unit 400 except as follows. With the dome 510 removed, thecooling device 520 having one or more packs 16 of dry ice therein isplaced in the tray 502, the lower edge of the passageway 525 engagingthe recess 504. The apertures 527 are disposed such that, as will beobserved in FIGS. 15 and 16 of the drawings, they are within the spacebounded by the tray 502 and thus, the cold air and CO₂ gas can permeatethe merchandise 412 therein.

With particular reference to FIGS. 20-24 of the drawings, there is shownan eighth embodiment of a display unit 600 according to the invention.The unit 600 has a base unit 601 which has the same features as the baseunit 401. A tray 602 is provided which also enjoys the same features asthe tray 402.

Projecting upwardly from the rear of the base unit 601 and preferablyintegral therewith is a cooling device 620. In order to provide supportfor the cooler device 620, laterally disposed wing elements 630 areprovided.

The cooling device 620 has two major walls, viz a rearwardly disposedwall 621 and a forwardly disposed wall 622. The walls 621, 622 are insubstantially parallel spaced apart relationship and together withnarrow sidewalls (not shown) define a compartment generally shown as623.

Reference should be made to FIG. 22 or FIG. 24 of the drawings. Whereasthe wall 621 is without apertures, the wall 622 has two apertures 624,625. The aperture 624 is circular in cross-section and is located belowthe aperture 625. Preferably integral with the aperture 624, there isprovided a tubular member 626 which projects away from and downwardlyrelative to the wall 622. The aperture 625 is substantially rectangularin plan view and is closed by. a door or cover 627 which, in the presentembodiment, is hinged along the lower edge of the cover 627 relative tothe wall 622.

The compartment 623 is sub compartmentalised into four sub-compartments631, 632, 633 and 634. Thus, the sub-compartment 631 is bounded by thewalls 621, 622, the dome 610 and a first horizontally disposed floor641.

The sub-compartment 632 is bounded by the wall 621, the floor 641 and afloor 642. The sub-compartment 632 is in fluid communication with thetubular member 626. The sub-compartment 633 is bounded by the wall 621,the cover 627, the floor 642 and a floor 643. The sub-compartment 644 isbounded by the walls 621, 622, the floor 643 and the top 645 of thecooler device 620. The floor 641 is located such that the base of thesub-compartment 632 and the tubular member 626 provide a smoothpassageway for a gas flowing from the sub-compartment-632 into thetubular member 626.

The subcompartment 633 constitutes a housing for dry ice 16, the floor642 constituting the base of the housing and being equivalent to thefloor 115 of the housing 200. Like the floor 115, it is provided with acentrally disposed circular aperture 644 the diameter Ø of which isbetween 5 mm and 40 mm, preferably between 10 mm and 15 mm.

The floor 643 is located so as to provide a large enough sub-compartment633 for having one or more packs 16 of dry ice.

A dome 610 is provided which is substantially similar to the dome 410except that the opening in the apex thereof is not provided. Instead, anopening 611 is provided which, when the dome 610 is in situ, mates withthe tubular member 626 thereby enabling cold air and CO₂ gas to flowinto the space bounded by the dome 610 thereby providing a coldenvironment for the merchandise 412.

It will be appreciated that the display units 400, 500 and 600 functionin a similar manner to each other and to the display unit 30.

In a ninth embodiment of the invention, FIGS. 25 and 26, the apparatuscomprises a cylindrical container 700 for keeping cool a product such asa bottle of wine 724. A removable lid 712 for the container comprises ahollow cylindrical body on which an external step 711 is formed. Thestep 711 prevents over-insertion of the lid 712 into the container 700.

An internal step (not shown) is formed within the lid 712 and acylindrical open mesh grid 715 is located within the lid resting on thestep. A 250 g bag 716 of dry ice pellets is located over the grill 715,and this is in turn is covered by a polystyrene thermally insulatingdisk 717. The contents of the lid 712 are held in place with a removablepush-fit cap 718, while the bottom of the container is also closed witha similar push-fit cap 718′.

It will be appreciated that the elements 715, 717 and 718, together withthe sidewalls of the lid 712, form a solid coolant housing in principlethe same as the housing 100 described in relation to FIG. 1. Of course,instead of the grill 715, one could instead use a plate having a singlecircular central aperture as described for the housing 200.

Although certain of the above embodiments have described a solid coolanthousing having only a single circular aperture in the base of thehousing, such aperture preferably having a diameter of between 5 mm and50 mm, and most preferably between 10 mm and 15 mm, it will beappreciated that more than one aperture may be provided in the base ofthe housing, in which case the cumulative area of the apertures ispreferably equivalent to the area of a circle having a diameter ofbetween 5 mm and 50 mm, and most preferably between 10 mm and 15 mm.

The invention, particularly with respect to FIGS. 8-24 of the drawingsprovide examples of convenient, inexpensive and easy to use displayunits which enable merchandise to be presented under favourablemerchandising conditions but also under temperature conditions which areparticularly suited to the product without the need for an electricalsupply.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein whichmay be modified or varied without departing from the scope of theinvention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A cooling apparatus comprising a tray foraccommodating a consumer product to be kept cool, the tray having anopen top, a transparent dome covering the open top of the tray, at leastone opening in the dome to allow consumer access to the product in thetray without removing the dome, a housing for accommodating areplaceable charge of solid coolant out of contact with the product, anda passageway between an interior of the housing and the interior of thedome to allow cold gas to flow from the solid coolant to the product. 2.A cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing has abase, and wherein the passageway includes at least one opening in thebase of the housing.
 3. A cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 1,wherein the tray is supported at a top of a base unit.
 4. A coolingapparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing is mounted outsidethe dome and the passageway extends downwardly from a bottom of thehousing.
 5. A cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein thehousing and the passageway are mounted directly on, and removable as asingle unit from, the dome.
 6. A cooling apparatus as claimed in claim1, wherein the solid coolant housing is mounted inside the dome.
 7. Acooling apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the housing has a basethat is spaced above a floor of the tray and the passageway comprises atleast one opening in the base of the housing.
 8. A cooling apparatus asclaimed in claim 7, wherein the passageway comprises a downwardextension of the housing, whereby the housing and the passageway areremovable as a single unit from inside the dome.
 9. A cooling apparatuscomprising a container for at least one product to be kept cool, thecontainer having a removable lid, a housing for accommodating areplaceable charge of solid coolant out of contact with the at least onproduct, said housing being accommodated within the lid, said housinghaving a base, and at least one aperture in the base of the housing toallow cold gas to flow from the solid coolant to the at least oneproduct.
 10. A cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein theaperture in the base of the housing has an area, or a cumulative area ifmore than one, that is equivalent to an area of a circle having adiameter between 5 mm and 50 mm.
 11. A cooling apparatus as claimed inclaim 9, wherein the aperture in the base of the housing has an area, ora cumulative area if more than one, that is equivalent to an area of acircle having a diameter between 10 mm and 15 mm.